Includes index

"First printing"--Title page verso

Air -- How does a balloon burst? -- Why does hot air rise? -- What is the greenhouse effect? -- What are greenhouse gases? -- How do feathers work? -- What keeps the fizz in champagne? -- Earth -- How old is the Earth? -- How are rocks made? -- How can rocks move? -- What is lava? -- What is brimstone? -- What is artificial stone? -- What is an element? -- What is sand? -- Is asbestos dangerous? -- When did the penny drop? -- What is the attraction of mountains? -- How do they dig tunnels? -- Water -- How do water drops bounce? -- Why does a milk drop make a crown? -- Why does water form drops? -- Who cares about splattering? -- Why is a shower warmer in the middle? -- When will the water run out? -- Where does "spend a penny" come from? -- Which way will a whirlpool whirl? -- How can a paperclip float? -- Does oil really calm troubled water? -- Fire -- Why does a match catch fire? -- How does a candle burn? -- Why are flames bright? -- What are firework sparks? -- Why does electricity make sparks? -- Why does your hair stand on end? -- Who made the first electric battery? -- Light -- What is limelight? -- Why does the ruler look bent? -- Why are rainbows colored? -- Why are bubbles colored? -- Why is the sky blue? -- How do TV shows travel down a cable? -- Why do pupils dilate? -- Can shadows form in space? -- Ice & rain -- Why does ice cool your drink? -- Why do ice cubes crack in your drink? -- Why do some icicles have bubbles up the middle? -- What's the difference between hail, snow and frost? -- How do you make snow? -- What is morning dew? -- What inspired the cloud chamber? -- Why can't they predict the weather? -- What is acid rain? -- Mathemagic -- What shapes will tessellate? -- What shape is a satellite dish? -- How do crystals grow? -- Who was Fibonacci? -- Which numbers are angular? -- How big is a million? -- How long is a centimeter? -- How does a pendulum swing? -- How fast does a pendulum swing? -- Technology -- Why don't knots come undone? -- Why does a ball bounce? -- What are machines? -- What was the first precision device? -- Which are the world's oldest toilets? -- How do you get a level playing field? -- Why are sand ripples interesting? -- How do radar guns work? -- How hot are your lips? -- Plants -- How do nettles sting? -- What are plants made of? -- What are roots for? -- How do you make a blue carnation? -- What are flowers for? -- Why do leaves have veins? -- Are seeds alive? -- How do plants spread? -- Are hollyhocks masochistic? -- Why do they all lean to the right? -- How alike are two peas in a pod? -- Who eats leaves? -- Do vegetables have protein? -- How can you grow better vegetables? -- What's the oldest thing alive? -- Animals -- Could dinosaurs swim? -- What are sea urchins? -- What use are seashells? -- What are stem cells? -- How do spiders catch flies? -- Why do bees make hexagons? -- How bright are rats? -- What is slug slime? -- Health -- What happens where in your head? -- Why do some plants affect the mind? -- Is there a pill for every ill? -- What are pills made of? -- Why bother with vaccination? -- How do diseases spread? -- How do surgeons learn? -- What happens in a cardiac arrest? -- Technical details

Why does a ball bounce? Why does a balloon burst? How can a stone move on its own? Television scientist and historian Adam Hart-Davis brings you the answers to 100 essential questions about life, the universe and everything, fully illustrated with his own superb colour photographs

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